Request For War Child Canada
CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
1. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
War Child Canada (WCC) is a Canadian-based international humanitarian organization that began supporting Afghanistan in 2001, initially focusing on the reintegration of Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan. In 2009, WCC formally established programming inside Afghanistan and has since developed a strong and demonstrated track record in child protection, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), education, justice and legal aid, livelihoods, and integrated humanitarian response programming.
Following the political transition in August 2021, War Child Canada adapted its operational approach to prioritize lifesaving and humanitarian response interventions, including gender-responsive health services, integrated protection services, and community-based support mechanisms. Currently, WCC and its partners implement multi-sectoral programs across Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Bamyan, Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, Kunduz, and Baghlan provinces, reaching over 300,000 women, girls, boys, men, and persons with disabilities across Afghanistan.
2. PURPOSE OF THIS EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Through this Expression of Interest (EOI), War Child Canada seeks to identify qualified and experienced national and local organizations for collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships under current and forthcoming funding opportunities aligned with the Afghanistan Country Strategy (2027–2030). The objective is to work together in program implementation, strengthen locally led programing, expand geographic reach in underserved and hard-to-access areas, enhance sustainability and community ownership, and ensure high-quality, gender-responsive, and protection-centered service delivery.
Submission of EOI does not guarantee funding or partnership agreement. Selected organizations may be invited to participate in further assessments, co-creation processes, and consortium proposal development.
3. PROGRAMATIC AREAS OF COLLABORATION
War Child Canada delivers integrated programming across multiple sectors to address the immediate humanitarian needs and long-term resilience of children, women, youth, and vulnerable communities across Afghanistan. Its programing combines service delivery, systems strengthening, community engagement, and capacity development to ensure sustainable, inclusive, and protection-centered interventions.
3.1
Protection / Child Protection
War Child Canada delivers comprehensive protection programing focused on child protection and violence response, grounded in safeguarding principles and the “Do No Harm” approach. The program targets returnees,
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internally displaced persons, disaster-affected communities, and other vulnerable groups, particularly women, girls, and children. Interventions include strengthening community-based protection mechanisms, promoting awareness and positive parenting practices, and providing psychosocial support through safe spaces. The program also delivers child protection case management, including identification, referral, follow-up support, and Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) for unaccompanied and separated children.
3.2
Youth and Adolescent Development
War Child Canada supports adolescents and young adults through dedicated Youth Centers that provide holistic and integrated services. These centers deliver vocational skills training aligned with local market needs, digital freelancing and entrepreneurship support, employability training, and business development services.
3.3
Women’s Economic Empowerment & Livelihoods
Women’s Economic Empowerment is integrated as a cross-cutting priority across War Child Canada’s humanitarian and development programming. Interventions are designed to enhance economic independence, resilience, and dignity for women and adolescent girls, particularly those from returnee, internally displaced, and vulnerable host communities.
3.4
Education in Emergencies
In the education sector, War Child Canada implements education in emergencies programing designed to expand equitable access to safe and inclusive learning opportunities. Interventions include community-based education (CBE), rehabilitation and improvement of learning spaces, and digital and technology-supported learning initiatives that integrate innovative approaches.
3.5
Health and RMNCAH Services
In the health sector, War Child Canada improves access to comprehensive and gender-responsive health services through the establishment and support of Primary Health Care Centers. These facilities provide outpatient consultations, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), and other essential health services.
3.6
Humanitarian and Emergency Response
In humanitarian and emergency contexts, War Child Canada delivers rapid, multi-sector assistance designed to respond to urgent and evolving needs. Emergency programing includes community-based protection interventions to bolster the local capacity and invest in preparedness of local community in the face of potential disasters and crises.
Emergency responses are flexible and context-sensitive, prioritizing vulnerable populations including women, children, returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and persons with disabilities. WCC integrates accountability to affected populations (AAP), safeguarding standards, and conflict-sensitive approaches into all emergency operations to ensure principled and effective humanitarian action.
WCC welcomes expressions of interest from organizations with demonstrated expertise in one or more of the above sectors, as well as those whose capacities would strengthen and complement these programmatic priorities through partnership.
4. CROSS-CUTTING COMMITMENTS
All partnerships under this EOI will be guided by War Child Canada’s commitment to safeguarding, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), accountability to affected populations (AAP), gender equity, disability inclusion, environmental and social safeguards, and conflict-sensitive programming. Partners are expected to
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demonstrate systems and policies aligned with these principles and to commit to continuous capacity strengthening where required.
5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Interested organizations must be legally registered in Afghanistan and demonstrate a minimum of five years of relevant operational experience in one or more of War Child Canada’s programmatic areas outlined above. Applicants should have sound financial management systems, as well as established safeguarding and PSEA policies, and proven experience in delivering community-based programming. Experience working with international donors and active participation in coordination mechanisms and clusters will be considered an asset.
6. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Applicants should submit all documents listed below, where available. Additional documentation may be requested during the shortlisting and due diligence process.
A. Organizational Information
1.Copy of Valid Legal Registration Certificate in Afghanistan
2.Organizational Profile, including:
o Vision, mission, and mandate
o Governance and organizational structure (including organogram)
o Geographic coverage and operational presence
o Staff number (disaggregated by male/female)
B. Technical Capacity
1.Summary of Relevant Project Experience (past 3–5 years), including:
o Donor(s)
o Project Budgets
o Projects duration and geographic location
o Key results achieved
2. Brief description of technical expertise in relevant sectors (Protection/ Child Protection, Psychosocial Support, Youth Development, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Education, Health and Emergency Response).
3. One sample of reporting or communication material (e.g., donor report, internal project report, or similar) demonstrates the organization’s documentation and reporting capacity.
4. A brief description of the organization’s experience in coordinating with relevant ministries, including the signing of MoUs with sectoral ministries, as well as membership and participation in relevant clusters and working groups.
C. Financial and Administrative Capacity
1. Financial Management Policy or Procedures Manual
2. Most recent audited financial statement or the Latest External Audit report
3. Annual budget turnover for the last five years
D. Safeguarding and Compliance
1. Safeguarding / Child Protection Policy
2. PSEA Policy or Code of Conduct addressing protection from sexual exploitation and abuse
3. Complaints and feedback mechanism (if available)
Shortlisted organizations may be requested to complete:
1. Partner Capacity Assessment Form/ Due Diligence Questionnaire
2. Safeguarding & PSEA Declaration
3. Conflict of Interest Declaration
7. EVALUATION AND DUE DILIGENCE
Expressions of Interest will be reviewed based on overall organizational capacity, geographic presence, financial systems, safeguarding standards, and alignment with War Child Canada’s strategic priorities. Selected organizations may undergo organizational capacity assessments, financial due diligence reviews, safeguarding assessments, and field verification where required.
8. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
EOIs must be submitted electronically to afg.hr@warchild.ca with the subject line 'EOI – Partnership – Afghanistan Country Program' no later than May 05, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
9. DISCLAIMER
This EOI does not constitute a commitment by War Child Canada to enter into any agreement or provide funding. War Child Canada reserves the right to accept or reject any submission and to request additional information from applicants.